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Germany without Frings and Friedrich

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) - Veteran midfielder Torsten Frings and central defender Arne Friedrich are both out of Germany's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the German Football Federation (DFB) announced on Saturday.

Germany face minnows Liechtenstein in Leipzig next Saturday before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales on April 1, but expect to be without Werder Bremen's Frings and Hertha Berlin captain Friedrich.

Frings, who has scored ten goals in 79 appearances for Germany, picked up an ankle injury against St Etienne in the UEFA Cup last Thursday and is out for seven days.

And Germany coach Joachim Loew is also without Friedrich, who picked up a thigh injury as the Bundesliga leaders were beaten 2-0 at Stuttgart on Saturday.

"This is my first muscle injury," said Friedrich, "so I can't estimate how long I will be out for until the injury is investigated."

Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler picked up a hand injury in Bayer Leverkusen's 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, but should be fit to face Liechtenstein.

Loew has the opportunity to call up extra players to the Germany squad as cover on Sunday.